Because of the always changing computer technology we as cockpit builders are obligated to follow the stream to keep our cockpit running. When the joystick port on the sound cards disappeared we soon had a big problem. Now we needed a joystick with a USB connection, but how to get this? Baying a new USB joystick like most 'desk pilots' was for me no option because my joystick is imbedded in the cockpit itself. At first I took my refuge to a adaptor that connected the analogue joystick port and transformed it to the USB protocol. After a while it turned out that this device was the reason of several crashes so the more reason to get rid of it very quickly. But what was the alternative. After some investigation of my dear friend Florent , he found a solution, it was the 'Mjoy 16' from Mindaugas Milasauskas.

This is really a super device. It is a Multifunctional Home Simulator Cockpit Controller suitable to control small to medium-sized cockpit inputs. The Mjoy 16 exists out of 8 high precision analogue axis inputs. These inputs can be used for the joystick inputs (X / Y axis) but also for rudder, throttle(s), flaps, trimmers etc. Added to this a number of buttons and switches. It supports up to 32 pushbuttons or 8 toggle switches or 4 rotary switches and a hat switch. This all can be combined in different setups. You can connect up to 16 of these USB cards to your PC by means of the necessary USB hubs. This makes the number of possibility's almost unlimited. The connection to the PC is simple plug and play. You don't need to have any special programming skills to be able to use this device.
For more technical information of this wonderful device I gladly refer to the download page of this website. Here you will find all the necessary technical PDF files you can download for free.

Of course this whole device can be build by you. The Atmel processor, who manages the whole device, is also self programmable with a Freeware programmer. Everything is explained and documented in detail on the web site of Mindaugas. Of course Florent wouldn't be Florent if he couldn't adapt and improve the print design of the Mjoy. So now you need only 1 print board instead of 2 in the original setup. The whole thing exist only out of a print board and a small amount of electronic parts and connectors. To protect it against dust and short-circuiting the Mjoy is placed in a housing of plexiglas. The connection on the outside exist out of five 9 pins connectors and one 25 pin connector. All analogue axis are connected with the 25 pin connector. All the pushbuttons and hat switch are connected with the 9 pin connectors.

The Mjoy is fully plug and play. When you connect the USB cable of the joystick to the PC the Mjoy is immediately identified as the MJ 16. The calibration of the axis can be done in the way as a normal joystick. You go to the screen configuration, click on the joystick logo . You will now see the Mjoy standing as first joystick in the row. Click on properties and calibrate and follow the instructions on the screen to calibrate it.

After the calibration of the axis you can now assign the remaining axis and different buttons. The assignment can be done directly in FS or for the more enhanced and refined user by FSUIPC of Pete Dowson. The last option gives such a range of possibilities that it is impossible for me to go in to detail on this. Pete made a very detailed manual for this. Of course not all can be understood at first hand. It needs some experimenting and analysing work in advance

So now we have again a new joystick with advanced possibilities. This of course gives us new possibilities to expand the cockpit management. But for now only the basic functions of the joystick are used. It works perfect without any problems and this is why we build it at the first place.